Sectionalized pontoon apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pontoon boat, raft, dock or the like made from a plurality of pontoon sections having longitudinally extending tabs and transversely extending tabs, stringers bolted to longitudinally aligned longitudinal tabs, cross pieces bolted to the transverse tabs and a deck. Other than for the nose cone section for a boat, the pontoon sections have slotted end portions to receive a block to minimize twisting of adjacent pairs of pontoon sections. Further, the nose cone sections are interchangable and each of the other pontoon sections are of the same construction.

United States Patent Reynolds i [54] SECTIONALIZED PONTOON APPARATUSRichard W. Reynolds, 110 Mayo Drive, Bumsville, Minn. 55378 [22] Filed:Nov.2l, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 878,627

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. "114/61, 9/1 R, 9/11 R [51] Int. Cl ..B63b 35/38 [58] Fieldof Search ..114/61, 66.5 F, 66.5 R, .5 R,

114/.5 F; 9/8 R, 8 P, 11 R, l R, 1 T; 244/105 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,614,937 10/1971 Schulman ..ll4/66.5F 1,825,6139/1931 Bell ..114/0.5

[ July4, 1972 3,316,873 5/1967 Dismukes ..1 14/61 PrimaryExaminer-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-F. K. Yee

Attorney-Bugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman 57 ABSTRACT A pontoon boat,raft, dock or the like made from a plurality of pontoon sections havinglongitudinally extending tabs and transversely extending tabs, stringersbolted to longitudinally aligned longitudinal tabs, cross pieces boltedto the transverse tabs and a deck. Other than for the nose cone sectionfor a boat, the pontoon sections have slotted end portions to receive ablock to minimize twisting of adjacent pairs of pontoon sections.Further, the nose cone sections are interchangable and each of the otherpontoon sections are of the same construction.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I PATENTEDJUL 41972 SHLETIDFZ I N VEN TOR.Fla/Mk0 M aw y/vows Arman/Er:

PATENTEDJUL 4 m2 wmanr 2 v m Huh Q l-N VEN TOR. RIC/I420 M IFVA/Qtas BY,M MW 1441: p 477220575 SECTIONALIZED PONTOON APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to pontoon boats, rafts, and thelike, each pontoon being made up of a plurality of pontoon sections thathave tab portions removably bolted to a stringer to form a pontoon andtab portions to be bolted to cross pieces.

Prior art boats and rafts have been made with pontoon sections, however,such prior art crafts have not been of a construction to be readilyassembled and disassembled and still, in an assembled condition be of arugged, sturdy construction. In order to overcome problems of the abovementioned nature, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pontoon boat, raft, dock or the like having apair of pontoons each made up of a plurality of pontoon sections thathave longitudinal tabs to be bolted to a stringer and transverse tabs tobe bolted to cross pieces.

Since each pontoon with the sections longitudinally aligned has two rowsof longitudinal tabs, the pontoon can be used as a right hand or a lefthand pontoon, depending on which row of longitudinal tabs that astringer is bolted to. Ftuther, since each pontoon section of each ofthe adjacent pair of pontoon sections has longitudinal half tabsections, that are substantially abuttable against the half tab sectionsof the other, are bolted to a stringer, the ends of the sections of theadjacent pair are retained closely adjacent one another. Additionally,since the adjacent ends of two pairs of pontoon sections each have atransverse tab that extends along one side of a cross piece and thetransverse tabs are bolted to a cross piece, the adjacent ends of onesection of each pair are retained closely adjacent one another. Also bythe provision of transverse tabs intermediate the end portions of thepontoon sections that are bolted to cross pieces and the provision oflongitudinal tabs intermediate the end portions of the pontoon sectionsthat are bolted to the stringers, even though a stringer should have avertical crack, the pontoon sections are still firmly held together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pontoonboat, raft, dock, or the like, of this invention with portions of thedeck and the deck supporting structure being broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the front end portion ofthe structure of FIG. 1, said view being generally taken along the lineand in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front end view of a front pontoon section, saidview being generally taken along the line and in the direction of thearrows 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing part of the deck mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a pontoon section, said view being generallytaken along the line and in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1showing a portion of the structure mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view generally taken along theline and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 2 to show protrudingribbing of the pontoon section;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view generally taken along theline and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 2 to show theribbing protruding into a pontoon section; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the mounting of across member that is joined to two pontoon sec tions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in particular toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a pontoon boat, raft, dock or thelike that includes a pair of pontoons respectively generally designated9 and 10. Each pontoon is made up of a plurality of first sections 11and a second section 12. Each pontoon section is made of a low or highdensity linear plastic that has a high impact factor, but that isresilient enough to give on striking sharp objects that would ordinarilycause ruptures in integrally formed pontoons that are made of, forexample, steel or aluminum. Each of the sections 11 has an enclosedinterior chamber 13 that extends the major portion of the length of thesection.

Additionally, each of the pontoon sections 11 has a bottom convexsurface portion 11a and a concavely curved surface portion 1 1b, 1 10respectively integrally joined to opposite edges of surface portion 11a,generally upwardly extending arcuately curved surface portions 1 1d and1 1e, respectively, and a generally flat top surface portion 11f thatextends between the top edges of surface portions 1 1d and He. Each ofsurface portions 11d, lle includes a longitudinally extending, outwardlyprotruding rib 15 that is about midway between the upper edge and loweredge of the respective surface portions. Further, one end portion ofeach of surface portions 11d, He is provided with a concave rib 16 whilethe opposite end portion is provided with a concave rib l7. Ribs l6, 17extend downwardly from rib 15. Additionally, each of surface portions11d, 1 1e at one end portion is provided with a convex rib l9; ribs l8,19 extending upwardly from rib 15 such as shown in FIG. 2.

Each of the end portions 11h and lli of the pontoon sections 11 has aradially elongated, generally rectangular slot 21 that opens to the topsurface transversely centered relative the opposite edges of the topsurface portion 11 f. The slots do not open to the interior chamber ofthe pontoon sections. Further, each slot is of a height greater thanone-third of the height of the pontoon section. Additionally, eachpontoon section end portion has a dished, concave, central portion 22,while the end surface portion llj surrounding portion 22 is generallyplanar.

integrally formed with the top surface portion 11f of each pontoonsection 11 adjacent the end portion lli are four longitudinallyelongated, transversely spaced tab half portions 25, 26, 27 and 28 thatare solid in cross section other than for bolt apertures. The tab halfportion 25 is integrally joined to the body portion adjacent thejuncture of surfaces 11d, 1 1f while the tab half portion 28 is joinedto the body portion adjacent the intersection of surface portions 11e,11f. Further, the tab portions 26, 27 are located transverselyintermediate portions 25, 28; portion 27 being spaced from section 28suflicient distance to form a slot to have the stringer 30 extendedtherebetween. Similarly the portion 26 is transversely spaced fromportion 25; the spacing of portions 26, 27 from one to the other beingsubstantially greater than the width of the stringer. Additionally, theone ends of portions 25-28 are substantially coplanar with the remainderof the end surface 1 l j. Each of the portions 25-28 is provided with atransverse bolt opening 39 that is transversely aligned with thecorresponding openings in the others of said portions. lntegrally joinedwith each of portions 25, 28 is a reinforcing flange 31 that istransversely opposite the slot formed by, for example, tab portions 25,26.'

Longitudinally aligned with tab portions 25, 26, 27 and 28 respectivelyare longitudinally elongated tabs 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively thatare solid in cross section. Tabs 33-36 are integrally joined to the topsurface portion 11f intermediate end portions 11h, lli. Each of tabs33-36 has longitudinally spaced, transversely extending bolt openingstherethrough; while to tabs 33, 36 there are integrally joinedreinforcing flanges 31. Longitudinally intermediate the set of tabsections 25-28 and the set of tabs 33-36 is a pair of transverselyelongated, transversely extending tabs 38, 39; tabs 38, 39 being spacedto provide a transverse slot of the width to have one end of a crosspiece 40 extended therebetween. The tabs 38, 39 are integrally joinedwith the top portion 1 If, and are located so as to avoid interferencewith a stringer placed in the pair of slots formed by tab sections 25,26 and 33, 34 respectively of a given pontoon section; and also to avoidinter ference with a stringer positioned in the pair of slots fonned bythe tab sections 27, 28 and tabs 35, 36, respectively. The tabs 38, 39have a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending boltopenings through which bolts 41 are extended for securing the adjacentend of the cross piece 40 thereto.

lntegrally joined to the top surface portion 11f adjacent end portion1111 to extend thereabove is a transversely elongated transverse tabsection 43. The generally planar one end surface of tab section 43 islongitudinally spaced from the generally planar surface end portion lljby a distance that is substantially one half of the thickness of a crosspiece 44. Further, tab 43 is longitudinally aligned with tabs 38, 39.

In the case of a dock or raft, each pontoon advantageously may be onlymade up of sections 11; however, in the case of boats, it is desiredthat the front section of the pontoon have its front end portion taperedin an upward direction to adjacent the top thereof. Accordingly, thereis provided a section 12. The section 12 has a rear end portion 12a thathas a slot 46 of the same size and shape as slot 21, slot 46 opening tothe top surface portion of section 120, Further, section 12 has anenclosed chamber 12b, a nose portion 12c that is somewhathemispherically shaped, a bottom, concaved surface portion 12d to form acontinuation of surface portion lla, concave surface portions 12e and12f to respectively form continuations of surface portions 11b and 11c,ribs 48 that generally form continuations of ribs 15 and reinforcingribs generally corresponding to rib 16 and 18. Additionally, section 12is provided with a plurality 'of longitudinally extending tabs 50, 51,52 and 53 that are longitudinally alignable and of generally the sameshape as tabs 33, 34, 35 and 36. Also, section 12a has a transverselyextending tab portion 54 that is longitudinally located relative to therearward generally planar end surface thereof in a manner correspondingto the location of tab portion 43 relative to planar surface 11 j.

Using the apparatus of this invention, a plurality of pontoon sections11 and a nose cone section 12 are placed in a row. The pontoon section11 next to pontoon section 12 has its end portions 11h adjacent theportion 12a while the second pontoon section 11 has its end portion 11iadjacent the end portion 11i of the first pontoon section 11.Accordingly, other than for pontoon section 12, pontoon sections 11 arealternately opposed to each other whereby each pair of pontoon sectionshave the tab sections 25-28 forming a continuation of the tab halfsections 28-25 respectively of the other pontoon section and each pairor pairs of pontoon sections have their end portions 11h adjacent oneanother (with the exception of the first and last pontoon section of thepontoon). Likewise, a pontoon section 12 and a plurality of pontoonsections 11 are positioned relative to one another to form a pontoonthat has its tab portions in the same relative positions of the firstpontoon.

For the pontoon 9, a stringer 30 is positioned in the slots formed bytabs 52, 53 of section 12; tab and tab portions 33, 34, 25, 26 of thefirst section 11; tab and tab portions 35, 36, 27, 28 of the secondsection 11; tabs and tab portions 33, 34, 25, 26 of the third sectionand etc.; the stringer being bolted to, for example tabs 33, 34 by abolt extending through tab 33, stringer 30, and tab 34. For the pontoon10, a second stringer 30 is positioned in the slots formed by tabs 50,51 of section 12; tabs and tab portions 35, 36, 27, 28 of the firstsection 11; tabs and tab portions 33, 34, 25, 26 of the second portion;tab and tab portions 35, 36, 27, 28 of the third section 11 and etc.,with the stringer being bolted to said tabs.

Now an elongated block 57 is inserted into each adjacent pair of slots21 that is of a horizontal cross section to substantially fill theadjacent pair of slots, the blocks 57 minimin'ng the tendency of theadjacent pair of pontoon sections from tending to twist relative oneanother. Further, a block 57 is inserted into the adjacent slot 46 ofsection 12 and the adjacent slot 21 of section 11.

After pontoons 9, have been spaced apart the desired distance, one endportion of the cross piece 58 is extended between transverse tab 54 andadjacent tab 43 and bolted to said tabs 54, 43 while the opposite endportions of the cross piece is likewise extended between and bolted tothe corresponding transverse tabs of pontoon 10. Similarly a cross piecehas one end portion inserted in slot formed by tabs 38, 39 and the otherend portion into the corresponding slots of the transversely oppositepontoon section. Likewise, for each pair of pontoon sections that haveend portions 1 1i in abutting relationship, one end of the cross pieceis extended into and bolted to the adjacent tab portions 43 while theopposite end portion is extended between and bolted to the tab portionsof transversely opposite pair of pontoon sections 11. As may be notedfrom the drawings, the one end of the cross piece is sub stantially inabutting relationship with one stringer 30 while the opposite end issubstantially in abutting relationship with the other stringer. Further,the vertical height of the cross pieces 30 and the stringers aresubstantially the same, the height of the stringers and the cross piecesbeing substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the taband tab sections.

The upper comer portion formed by the intersection of the cross piecewith the stringer has a leg of an angular bracket 60 bolted to thestringer and the other leg of the bracket bolted at 61 to the crosspiece. After the pontoon sections, stringers and cross pieces areassembled in the aforementioned manner, the deck is bolted to thestringers and cross pieces. If desired, railings and other structuresmay be built on the deck.

Using the pontoon sections of this invention, the boat, raft, or dockmay be readily assembled; readily disassembled for storage or movingpurposes. Additionally, in the disassembled condition, the parts take upmuch less space than in the assembled condition. Further, by providingthe pontoon sections with transverse tabs that are integrally formedwith the body portion and securing cross pieces to the transverse tabs,in the event that a crack should develop in one of the stringers, theassembled pontoon boat will not readily break apart. That is, eachpontoon is not only directly attached to the stringer but is alsodirectly attached to the cross piece. Further, due to the provision ofthe blocks 57, the possible twisting movement of one pontoon sectionrelative the other is minimized while at the same time the pontoonsections are not directly attached one to the other.

Additionally, providing two transversely spaced sets of iongitudinallyaligned, longitudinal tabs and tab portions, each of the sections 11 isof the same construction, but may be used for either the left handportion or right hand portion and still place the respective stringer inthe longitudinal slots that are remote from the other pontoon, As aresult, the cross pieces in part may bear against the top surface 11 fand attached to the transverse tabs regardless if a section 11 is usedfor the right hand or left hand pontoon and may be used with thetransverse tab 43 being more closely adjacent the front end of thepontoon or more closely adjacent the rear end of the pontoon.

What is claimed is:

l. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a first elongated pontoon,a second elongated pontoon, each pontoon including a plurality of firstpontoon sections in longitudinal alignment, each of said pontoonsections being of substantially the same size and shape, having a bodyportion that has a top surface portion, a first longitudinally extendingtab portion integrally joined to the top surface portion to extendthereabove and having a transversely extending first tab portion, afirst stringer secured to the longitudinally extending tab portions ofthe first pontoon, a second stringer secured to the longitudinallyextending tab portions of the second pontoon, a plurality of transversecross pieces having first ends and second ends, said first ends beingsecured to the first transverse tab portions of the first pontoon andsaid second ends being secured to the transverse tab portions of thesecond pontoon, and a deck secured to said stringers, each pontoonsection having a second longitudinally extending tab portiontransversely spaced from the first longitudinally extending tab portiona sufficient distance to have a stringer extend therebetween, thestringer of each pontoon being extended between the first and secondlongitudinally extending tab portions of the respective pontoon andsecured to the second longitudinally extending tab portions, and asecond pair of longitudinally extending tab portions tranversely spacedfrom the first and second longitudinally extending tab portions andtransversely spaced from each other sufficiently to have a stringerextended therebetween.

2. A boat, dock, rafi or the like comprising a first elongated pontoon,a second elongated pontoon, each pontoon including a plurality of firstpontoon sections in longitudinal alignment, each of said pontoonsections being of substantially the same size and shape, having a bodyportion that has a top surface portion, a longitudinally extending tabportion integrally joined to the top surface portion to extendthereabove and a transversely extending first tab portion, a firststringer secured to the longitudinally tab portions of the firstpontoon, a second stringer secured to the longitudinally extending tabportions of the second pontoon, a plurality of transverse cross pieceshaving first ends and second ends, said first ends being secured to thefirst transverse tab portions of the first pontoon and said second endsbeing secured to the transverse tab portions of the second pontoon, anda deck secured to said stringers, each longitudinally adjacent pair ofpontoon sections including adjacent first end portions having a half ofa longitudinal tab portion, each of said half tab portion being securedto the respective stringer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that eachlongitudinally adjacent pair of pontoon sections has an opposite endportion having a second transverse tab portion, each of said secondtransverse tab portions being secured to a cross piece.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that each of alongitudinally adjacent pair of pontoon sections opposite end portionshas a radially extending slot opening to the other and that a block islocated in the radially extending slots of the adjacent pair of sectionsto minimize angular movement of one section to the other.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that each pontoonincludes a nose cone section having a pair of spaced longitudinallyextending tab portions bolted to the respective stringer and atransverse tab portion bolted to one of the cross pieces.

6. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a longitudinally elongatedpontoon, a second longitudinally elongated pontoon, each pontoonincluding a stringer and first and second longitudinally elongatedpontoon sections each havinga first end portion and a second endportion, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally elongated tabsbolted to each other and the stringer intermediate said end portions,and a transverse tab joined to the first end portion, and a cross piecehaving one end portion bolted to the transverse tabs of one pontoon anda second end portion bolted to the transverse tabs of the other pontoon.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that each pontoonincludes a third pontoon section having a first end portion and a secondend portion, the second and third pontoon sections second end portionseach having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally elongated tabhalf portions, the tab half portions of the secondsection being boltedto the stringer adjacent the tab half portions of the third section.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the second andthird pontoon sections each have a pair of longitudinally spacedtransverse tab portions longitudinally intermediate the respectivelongitudinal tabs and tab half portions of the respective section andthat there is provided a second and third cross piece having one endbolted to the pair of transverse tabs of the second and third sectionsrespectively of the first pontoon and opposite ends bolted to the pairof transverse tabs of the second and third sections respectively of thesecond pontoon.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that each of thepontoon sections has a pair of transverse tab por tions longitudinallyoffset from the longitudinal tab portions of the respective section, andthat there is provided a pair of cross pieces having first end portionsbolted to the pair of transverse tabs of the first and second pontoonsections respectively of the first pontoon and second end portionsbolted to the pair of transverse tabs of the first and second pontoonsections respectively of the second pontoon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that there isprovided brackets for joining the one end portions of the cross piecesto the stringer of one pontoon and the opposite ends portions of thecross pieces to the stringer of the other pontoon, that the pontoonsections have body portions enclosing a hollow chamber and that the tabsand tab portions are integrally joined to the respective body portion.

1 l. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a first plurality oflongitudinally elongated pontoon sections, a second plurality oflongitudinally elongated pontoon sections, each pontoon section having abody portion, a first stringer, a second stringer, and a plurality oftransverse cross pieces having first ends and second ends, each of thefirst pontoon sections having a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinally elongated tab portions integrally joined to therespective body portion to extend thereabove and bolted to the firststringer, said first stringer extending between the above mentioned pairof tab portions, and a transverse tab portion integrally joined to therespective body portion and bolted to the one end of one of the crosspieces, and each of the second pontoon sections having a pair oftransversely spaced longitudinally elongated tab portions integrallyjoined to the res ective body portion and bolted to the second stringer,the second stringer extending between the last mentioned pair of tabportions and a first transverse tab portion integrally joined to therespective body portion and bolted to the second end of one of the crosspieces and a deck secured to said stringers.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that each pontoonsection has a second transverse tab portion longitudinally spaced fromthe respective first transverse tab portion and on the opposite side ofthe respective cross piece, said second transverse tab portions beingintegrally joined to the respective body portion and bolted to the crosspiece and the first transverse tab portion of the same pontoon section.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized in that two of thefirst pontoon sections have first end portions and that said twosections are bolted to the first stringer with their end portionsadjacent one another, each of said first end portions having a radiallyextending slot opening to the other, and that there is provided a blockin the slots to minimize angular movement one of said two sectionsrelative the other.

14. A boat, dock, raft or like comprising a first elongated pontoon, asecond elongated pontoon, a plurality of cross pieces each having afirst end and a second end, each pontoon section having a firstlongitudinally extending tab portion, a first stringer bolted to thelongitudinally extending tab portions of the first pontoon, a secondstringer bolted to the longitudinally extending tab portions of thesecond pontoon, each pontoon section of the first pontoon having atransverse tab portion bolted to the first end of one of the crosspieces, each pontoon section of the second pontoon having a transversetab portion bolted to the second end of the cross piece second end, eachof a longitudinally adjacent pair of pontoon sections having radiallyextending slots opening to one another and a block located in the radialslots of the adjacent pair of sections to minimize angular movement ofone of the pair of sections relative the other, and a deck secured tosaid stringers.

15. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a first elongated pontoon,a second elongated pontoon, a plurality of cross pieces each having afirst end and a second end, each pontoon including a plurality of firstsections in longitudinal alignment, each pontoon section having a bodyportion and a first longitudinally extending tab portion integrallyjoined to the body portion, a first stringer bolted to thelongitudinally extending tab portions of the first pontoon, a secondstringer bolted to the longitudinally extending tab portions of thesecond pontoon, each pontoon section of the first pontoon having a pairof longitudinally spaced transverse tab portions 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 further characterized in that each body portion has a topsurface portion and end portions, and that each longitudinally adjacentpair of pontoon sections end portions has an elongated slot openingthrough the top surface of the respective pontoon and opening to theother of said pair of sections and that there is provided a block in theslots of the adjacent pair of sections to minimize angular movement ofone of the pair of sections to the other.

'01 l l l i

1. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a first elongated pontoon,a second elongated pontoon, each pontoon including a plurality of firstpontoon sections in longitudinal alignment, each of said pontoonsections being of substantially the same size and shape, having a bodyportion that has a top surface portion, a first longitudinally extendingtab portion integrally joined to the top surface portion to extendthereabove and having a transversely extending first tab portion, afirst stringer secured to the longitudinally extending tab portions ofthe first pontoon, a second stringer secured to the longitudinallyextending tab portions of the second pontoon, a plurality of transversecross pieces having first ends and second ends, said first ends beingsecured to the first transverse tab portions of the first pontoon andsaid second ends being secured to the transverse tab portions of thesecond pontoon, and a deck secured to said stringers, each pontoonsection having a second longitudinally extending tab portiontransversely spaced from the first longitudinally extending tab portiona sufficient distance to have a stringer extend therebetween, thestringer of each pontoon being extended between the first and secondlongitudinally extending tab portions of the respective pontoon andsecured to the second longitudinally extending tab portions, and asecond pair of longitudinally extending tab portions tranversely spacedfrom the first and second longitudinally extending tab portions andtransversely spaced from each other sufficiently to have a stringerextended therebetween.
 2. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising afirst elongated pontoon, a second elongated pontoon, each pontoonincluding a plurality of first pontoon sections in longitudinalalignment, each of said pontoon sections being of substantially the samesize and shape, having a body portion that has a top surface portion, alongitudinally extending tab portion integrally joined to the topsurface portion to extend thereabove and a transversely extending firsttab portion, a first stringer secured to the longitudinally tab portionsof the first pontoon, a second stringer secured to the longitudinallyextending tab portions of the second pontoon, a plurality of transversecross pieces having first ends and second ends, said first ends beingsecured to the first transverse tab portions of the first pontoon andsaid second ends being secured to the transverse tab portions of thesecond pontoon, and a deck secured to said stringers, eachlongitudinally adjacent pair of pontoon sections including adjacentfirst end portions having a half of a longitudinal tab portion, each ofsaid half tab portion being secured to the respective stringer.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that each longitudinallyadjacent pair of pontoon sections has an opposite end portion having asecond transverse tab portion, each of said second transverse tabportions being secured to a cross piece.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3further characterized in that each of a longitudinally adjacent pair ofpontoon sections opposite end portions has a radially extending slotopening to the other and that a block is located in the radiallyextending slots of the adjacent pair of sections to minimize angularmovement of one section to the other.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3further characterized in that each pontoon includes a nose cone sectionhaving a pair of spaced longitudinally extending tab portions bolted tothe respective stringer and a transverse tab portion bolted to one ofthe cross pieces.
 6. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising alongitudinally elongated pontoon, a second longitudinally elongatedpontoon, each pontoon including a stringer and first and secondlongitudinally elongated pontoon sections each having a first endportion and a second end portion, a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinally elongated tabs bolted to each other and the stringerintermediate said end portions, and a transverse tab joined to the firstend portion, and a cross piece having one end portion bolted to thetransverse tabs of one pontoon and a second end portion bolted to thetransverse tabs of the other pontoon.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6further characterized in that each pontoon includes a third pontoonsection having a first end portion and a second end portion, the secondand third pontoon sections second end portions each having a pair oftransversely spaced longitudinally elongated tab half portions, the tabhalf portions of the second section being bolted to the stringeradjacent the tab half portions of the third section.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7 further characterized in that the second and third pontoonsections each have a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse tabportions longitudinally intermediate the respective longitudinal tabsand tab half portions of the respective section and that there isprovided a second and third cross piece having one end bolted to thepair of transverse tabs of the second and third sections respectively ofthe first pontoon and opposite ends bolted to the pair of transversetabs of the second and third sections respectively of the secondpontoon.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that eachof the pontoon sections has a pair of transverse tab portionslongitudinally offset from the longitudinal tab portions of therespective section, and that there is provided a pair of cross pieceshaving first end portions bolted to the pair of transverse tabs of thefirst and second pontoon sections respectively of the first pontoon andsecond end portions bolted to the pair of transverse tabs of the firstand second pontoon sections respectively of the second pontoon.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that there is providedbrackets for joining the one end portions of the cross pieces to thestringer of one pontoon and the opposite ends portions of the crosspieces to the stringer of the other pontoon, that the pontoon sectionshave body portions enclosing a hollow chamber and that the tabs and tabportions are integrally joined to the respective body portion.
 11. Aboat, dock, raft or the like comprising a first plurality oflongitudinally elongated pontoon sections, a second plurality oflongitudinally elongated pontoon sections, each pontoon section having abody portion, a first stringer, a second stringer, and a plurality oftransverse cross pieces having first ends and second ends, each of thefirst pontoon sections having a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinally elongated tab portions integrally joined to therespective body portion to extend thereabove and bolted to the firststringer, said first stringer extending between the above mentioned pairof tab portions, and a transverse tab portion integrally joined to therespective body portion and bolted to the one end of one of the crosspieces, and each of the second pontoon sections having a pair oftransversely spaced longitudinally elongated tab portions integrallyjoined to the respective body portion and bolted to the second stringer,the second stringer extending between thE last mentioned pair of tabportions and a first transverse tab portion integrally joined to therespective body portion and bolted to the second end of one of the crosspieces and a deck secured to said stringers.
 12. The apparatus of claim11 further characterized in that each pontoon section has a secondtransverse tab portion longitudinally spaced from the respective firsttransverse tab portion and on the opposite side of the respective crosspiece, said second transverse tab portions being integrally joined tothe respective body portion and bolted to the cross piece and the firsttransverse tab portion of the same pontoon section.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 11 further characterized in that two of the first pontoon sectionshave first end portions and that said two sections are bolted to thefirst stringer with their end portions adjacent one another, each ofsaid first end portions having a radially extending slot opening to theother, and that there is provided a block in the slots to minimizeangular movement one of said two sections relative the other.
 14. Aboat, dock, raft or like comprising a first elongated pontoon, a secondelongated pontoon, a plurality of cross pieces each having a first endand a second end, each pontoon section having a first longitudinallyextending tab portion, a first stringer bolted to the longitudinallyextending tab portions of the first pontoon, a second stringer bolted tothe longitudinally extending tab portions of the second pontoon, eachpontoon section of the first pontoon having a transverse tab portionbolted to the first end of one of the cross pieces, each pontoon sectionof the second pontoon having a transverse tab portion bolted to thesecond end of the cross piece second end, each of a longitudinallyadjacent pair of pontoon sections having radially extending slotsopening to one another and a block located in the radial slots of theadjacent pair of sections to minimize angular movement of one of thepair of sections relative the other, and a deck secured to saidstringers.
 15. A boat, dock, raft or the like comprising a firstelongated pontoon, a second elongated pontoon, a plurality of crosspieces each having a first end and a second end, each pontoon includinga plurality of first sections in longitudinal alignment, each pontoonsection having a body portion and a first longitudinally extending tabportion integrally joined to the body portion, a first stringer boltedto the longitudinally extending tab portions of the first pontoon, asecond stringer bolted to the longitudinally extending tab portions ofthe second pontoon, each pontoon section of the first pontoon having apair of longitudinally spaced transverse tab portions bolted to thefirst end of one of the cross pieces and to each other, each pontoonsection of the second pontoon having a pair of longitudinally spacedtransverse tab portion bolted to the second end of one of the crosspieces, said pairs of transverse tab portions being integrally joined tothe respective body portion and the respective end of the cross piecesbeing extended between the two transverse tab portions of the pair ofthe transverse tab portions, and a deck secured to said stringers. 16.The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that each bodyportion has a top surface portion and end portions, and that eachlongitudinally adjacent pair of pontoon sections end portions has anelongated slot opening through the top surface of the respective pontoonand opening to the other of said pair of sections and that there isprovided a block in the slots of the adjacent pair of sections tominimize angular movement of one of the pair of sections to the other.